Reviews

Attached are PDF files (you must have Adobe Acrobat 6 or higher) of some Billboard rock concert reviews from 1967 to 1971 in New York City. If the classic rock music of the 1960s and ‘70s is your bag, then perhaps these reviews will give you a feeling for the excitement that revolved around the music at the time.

Reviewing rock concerts fell to me because the older staffers (at 21 I was the youngest by far) didn’t like the late nights, loud music and ever-present pot cloud. For me it was a perfect match and a great opportunity.

Unfortunately, most of the reviews here don’t have an issue date on them, and I don’t have exact dates. A few reviews are not in the best condition.

By the way, I didn’t write any of the headlines, I swear – that was the copy editor’s job, and writing headlines was not his strong suite, especially when it came to things a milquetoast middle-aged family man didn’t have a clue about and wanted no part of – like live, loud rock ‘n’ roll.

Keep in mind also that back then it was all “new” music to everyone, and the high level of artistry I consistently encountered was, in a word, stunning. To add to the fun, I was on a deadline, and often writing a review as soon as the concert ended late at night, sometimes well past midnight, to be turned in the next morning.

So both concerts and reviews were products of compact, near-simultaneous but delayed explosions, twin eruptions of music and writing, one following the other by a smattering of hours.

Alice Cooper Review & Column – Billboard

Chuck Berry, Albert King & The Who – Billboard

Cream – Billboard

Creedence Clearwater Revival – Billboard

Fleetwood Mac, Country Joe & The Fish

Janis Joplin Review & Column – Billboard

Jeff Beck, Joe Cocker and NRBQ – Billboard

Jimi Hendrix Review & Column – Billboard

King Crimson, Fleetwood Mac and Joe Cocker – Billboard

Mothers of Invention, Chicago & Buddy Miles

Nice, Ten Years After & The Family – Billboard (April ’69)

Procol Harum & The Byrds – Billboard